Whip out your banana suit, slap on your sunscreen and charge your glass: the Hong Kong Sevens returns this month after three postponement, years of though expect certain rules to keep everyone safe. Fans attending the tournament will need to be fully vaccinated with a vaccine pass, use the LeaveHomeSafe app, wear masks and sit in groups of no more than eight, and capacity of the 40,000-seat arena is restricted to 85 per cent. Drinks are the only permitted refreshments in the stands, with food limited to designated areas. And despite hotel quarantine being nixed in time for the rugby, the number of overseas spectators will be far lower than at previous tournaments.
That said, the matches represent a turning point in Hong Kong's "zero covid" pandemic strictures and will be a bellwether for the return of largescale, non-seated events, restoring some of the city's damaged reputation as a tourist destination. "This is really all about getting Hong Kong moving again, and [is] an opportunity to demonstrate that Hong Kong can still throw a good party," says Hong Kong Rugby Union chief executive Robbie McRobbie.
This will be the fifth Sevens outing for Max Woodward, captain of the Hong Kong team. Here, he conveys his excitement for the comeback of the year.
How does it feel to be gearing up for the first Sevens in three years?
It's pretty special. For it to be confirmed and coming up very quickly is super exciting. The Hong Kong Sevens is the marquee event for us: we train throughout the year, we play our tournaments, we have our own goals, but the Sevens is where people realise that the team exists. It represents something a bit bigger; something for people to get behind and support to show their love for the city through a team is really special. It has been a tough few years for everyone, but it feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel. And the Sevens represents that.
This story is from the November 2022 edition of Tatler Hong Kong.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2022 edition of Tatler Hong Kong.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE LAST WORD
Every issue, we ask our cover star a round of quickfire questions that give us a little more insight into their personalities. This month: Takashi Murakami
GOING WITH THE FLOW
How does one approach the ancient philosophy of feng shui in a modern way? Three leading Hong Kong-based designers share their thoughts on this revered art of placement and how to introduce its principles into our spaces
SCENE MAKER
Italian architect Antonio Citterio reflects on his enduring collaboration with Maxalto and how far the furniture brand has come since its early beginnings
MODERN FAMILY
Kourtney Kardashian's California sanctuary by famed designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, is where elegance meets comfort
A TO Z COSMETIC TREATMENTS
From Botox to glass skin facials, here are the most talked-about cosmetic treatments to know
CHANGING THE GAME
Our world is ever-changing, and so is the way we experience it. Tatler explores how the travel industry is adapting to the needs and values of a new generation
ACTS OF SERVICE
Go on, then. Ask Vea and Wing's chef-owner Vicky Cheng what his love language is
THE BIRTH OF A MOVEMENT
More women are taking back their birthing experience and their power by challenging the institutionalised norms surrounding childbirth, honouring the healing process and leaning on the magic of sisterhood
THE RIGHT INGRDIENTS
Oscar nominee Tran Anh Hung, who won Best Director at Cannes last year, evolves the language of cinema to present the simple beauty of Vietnam
THIRST TRAP
Marilyn Minter takes an exclusive self-portrait for Tatler and reminds the world why raw, honest, non-conforming beauty is the most compelling kind